How TF did Kawhi even win 60+ with this team?

[rasuo214]

What a load of crap. Spurs were 7-1 without Kawhi his last full season, beating the warriors, raptors, Memphis, Toronto, Portland. He didn't even play huge minutes to be arguing he carried some amazing load. Go ask Lillard or AD what it's like to carry crap.

Yes, this roster has issues, yes Kawhi is a top 5 player. But the fact is we just played our tenth game, have a quarter of our rotation injured, and lost more than just Kawhi over the last two seasons. We wouldnt even be in this situation if it weren't for him being broken goods, either mentally or physically. Let him win 60+, dpoy, finals mvp somewhere else before you cut your veins like a jilted woman...

Warriors played their backups, Raptors were without DD, Portland was without Lillard, and Memphis was a loss. The other wins were against teams (Mavs, Kings, Nets and Suns).

[lefty]

Kawhi carried those scrubs and Pop tbh


Sperms

[hater]

We won 50 games with the Autistic re getting handjobs from unc and sis in NYC

Mute Cancer had nothing to do with it

[Arcadian]

nope..Westbrook and harden was much better that season

if westbrook did not averaged triple double that season maybe kawhi had a chance..

even harden almost averaged triple double that season and led the rockets to 55 wins.

That doesn't mean they were better. It's well known that Westbrick stat-padded heavily that season, his team was mediocre, and Harden was a liability on defense. Kawhi was better.

[diego]

Warriors played their backups, Raptors were without DD, Portland was without Lillard, and Memphis was a loss. The other wins were against teams (Mavs, Kings, Nets and Suns).

Oh, and Pau, many, Tony, Simmons, Aldridge didn't miss games either? Or it only counts when other teams are missing players?

You are right about Memphis though, took a Reddit post for info

[UncleDennis]

That doesn't mean they were better. It's well known that Westbrick stat-padded heavily that season, his team was mediocre, and Harden was a liability on defense. Kawhi was better.

Agreed, KL was better then them that year and he is still better then them. The disappointment we felt from Kawhi during his playoff stints in 2015 and 2016 is pretty much what Westbrook and Harden deliver every year in the playoffs.

Harden giving up against a Kawhi-less spurs squad on his home-court and him being benched for their comeback against the Clippers the prior year are his most memorable moments for me. Then you have Westbrook who obviously doesn't need just a pretty good secondary guy like Paul George to have any modi of success but he needs a legit top 3 guy like Durant, in other words he would need a Kawhi level player to have any chance. Until any of these two guys can match what Kawhi was doing at his best level (IMO the 2017 playoffs against Memphis and dominating the Warriors was his top level but that whole season was an MVP showcase for him) to me, it's down right laughable that a pure one way talent or a year long stat padding session could be deemed the better player, the more exciting? yes....The more flashy? Yup....but not a better player.

Absent all the background and "injury" bull with Kawhi, on talent alone, given the choice of KL, Westbrook or Harden would any GM league-wide decide on either of the other two???? , OKC and Houston would be first in line for Kawhi.

Obviously I'm just talking raw basketball, as far as leadership, team camaraderie or w/e other skills relative to that, Kawhi is pretty much a 0.0 to me but you can't have it all right (T.D?! lol), this guy just wins as much as it sucks to say that as a Spurs fan after the last BS year.


On the original post though; I loved that 2017 line up. Simmons just fit so nicely with that team, David Lee was having a renaissance season, Dedmon was a tough athletic big and Pau Gasol all of a sudden had this great stroke from beyond the Arch, even Parker found an extra gear in the playoffs. Everything was coming together for that squad at the exact right time until the D.Lee + Parker injuries but even with those I still think because Kawhi was just that damn elite they were on the path to dethrone the Warriors. Kawhi just commanded so much gravity on the court that Aldridge could really do damage against them and Simmons and them just didn't play scared like Kyle and all these other secondary guys seem do on that stage.

I've pretty much hated every roster decision the front office has made since that '17 WCF appearance except the Aldridge extension, and the real question should be how did Aldridge carry last years squad to 47 wins, I mean I watched him do it but still can't comprehend it really.

[TheGreatYacht]

Oh and I should add, for the past 15 years so many here cried about the team being old and injury prone... Go look it up, the best teams are consistently older teams. All those desperate to rebuild and get younger are getting what you wanted, a team that has to learn to survive and win in the NBA.

Where the is this narrative coming from that we're a young team?

Lamarcus Aldridge (33 years old)
Dante Cunningham (31 years old)
Rudy Gay (32 years old)
DeMar DeRozan (29 years old)
Derrick White (24 years old)

Pau Gasol (38 years old)
Davis Bertans (25 years old)
Marco Belinelli (32 years old)
Bryn Forbes (25 years old)
Patty Mills (30 years old)

Even Lonnie Walker and Dejounte Murray have 30yr old paycheck collecting NBA Veteran knees smh

[r0drig0lac]

Agreed, KL was better then them that year and he is still better then them. The disappointment we felt from Kawhi during his playoff stints in 2015 and 2016 is pretty much what Westbrook and Harden deliver every year in the playoffs.

Harden giving up against a Kawhi-less spurs squad on his home-court and him being benched for their comeback against the Clippers the prior year are his most memorable moments for me. Then you have Westbrook who obviously doesn't need just a pretty good secondary guy like Paul George to have any modi of success but he needs a legit top 3 guy like Durant, in other words he would need a Kawhi level player to have any chance. Until any of these two guys can match what Kawhi was doing at his best level (IMO the 2017 playoffs against Memphis and dominating the Warriors was his top level but that whole season was an MVP showcase for him) to me, it's down right laughable that a pure one way talent or a year long stat padding session could be deemed the better player, the more exciting? yes....The more flashy? Yup....but not a better player.

Absent all the background and "injury" bull with Kawhi, on talent alone, given the choice of KL, Westbrook or Harden would any GM league-wide decide on either of the other two???? , OKC and Houston would be first in line for Kawhi.

Obviously I'm just talking raw basketball, as far as leadership, team camaraderie or w/e other skills relative to that, Kawhi is pretty much a 0.0 to me but you can't have it all right (T.D?! lol), this guy just wins as much as it sucks to say that as a Spurs fan after the last BS year.


On the original post though; I loved that 2017 line up. Simmons just fit so nicely with that team, David Lee was having a renaissance season, Dedmon was a tough athletic big and Pau Gasol all of a sudden had this great stroke from beyond the Arch, even Parker found an extra gear in the playoffs. Everything was coming together for that squad at the exact right time until the D.Lee + Parker injuries but even with those I still think because Kawhi was just that damn elite they were on the path to dethrone the Warriors. Kawhi just commanded so much gravity on the court that Aldridge could really do damage against them and Simmons and them just didn't play scared like Kyle and all these other secondary guys seem do on that stage.

I've pretty much hated every roster decision the front office has made since that '17 WCF appearance except the Aldridge extension, and the real question should be how did Aldridge carry last years squad to 47 wins, I mean I watched him do it but still can't comprehend it really.

great post

[Kurgan]

Where the is this narrative coming from that we're a young team?

Lamarcus Aldridge (33 years old)
Dante Cunningham (31 years old)
Rudy Gay (32 years old)
DeMar DeRozan (29 years old)
Derrick White (24 years old)

Pau Gasol (38 years old)
Davis Bertans (25 years old)
Marco Belinelli (32 years old)
Bryn Forbes (25 years old)
Patty Mills (30 years old)

Even Lonnie Walker and Dejounte Murray have 30yr old paycheck collecting NBA Veteran knees smh

Derrick White about to turn 25 years old and he hasn't even played 20 games yet

This front office sure knows how to pick 'em.

[TheGreatYacht]

Derrick White about to turn 25 years old and he hasn't even played 20 games yet

This front office sure knows how to pick 'em.

"Hey its hit and miss late in the first round!I!!iii!!!iii"

....

[RC_Drunkford]

Agreed, KL was better then them that year and he is still better then them. The disappointment we felt from Kawhi during his playoff stints in 2015 and 2016 is pretty much what Westbrook and Harden deliver every year in the playoffs.

Harden giving up against a Kawhi-less spurs squad on his home-court and him being benched for their comeback against the Clippers the prior year are his most memorable moments for me. Then you have Westbrook who obviously doesn't need just a pretty good secondary guy like Paul George to have any modi of success but he needs a legit top 3 guy like Durant, in other words he would need a Kawhi level player to have any chance. Until any of these two guys can match what Kawhi was doing at his best level (IMO the 2017 playoffs against Memphis and dominating the Warriors was his top level but that whole season was an MVP showcase for him) to me, it's down right laughable that a pure one way talent or a year long stat padding session could be deemed the better player, the more exciting? yes....The more flashy? Yup....but not a better player.

Absent all the background and "injury" bull with Kawhi, on talent alone, given the choice of KL, Westbrook or Harden would any GM league-wide decide on either of the other two???? , OKC and Houston would be first in line for Kawhi.

Obviously I'm just talking raw basketball, as far as leadership, team camaraderie or w/e other skills relative to that, Kawhi is pretty much a 0.0 to me but you can't have it all right (T.D?! lol), this guy just wins as much as it sucks to say that as a Spurs fan after the last BS year.


On the original post though; I loved that 2017 line up. Simmons just fit so nicely with that team, David Lee was having a renaissance season, Dedmon was a tough athletic big and Pau Gasol all of a sudden had this great stroke from beyond the Arch, even Parker found an extra gear in the playoffs. Everything was coming together for that squad at the exact right time until the D.Lee + Parker injuries but even with those I still think because Kawhi was just that damn elite they were on the path to dethrone the Warriors. Kawhi just commanded so much gravity on the court that Aldridge could really do damage against them and Simmons and them just didn't play scared like Kyle and all these other secondary guys seem do on that stage.

I've pretty much hated every roster decision the front office has made since that '17 WCF appearance except the Aldridge extension, and the real question should be how did Aldridge carry last years squad to 47 wins, I mean I watched him do it but still can't comprehend it really.

Uncle Dennis with the realness

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I’m not sure this roster would win 60 even with a healthy Kawhi, minus DeRozan. No Manu, no Green, no Parker has an impact with depth. We have none.

[TDomination]

I’m not sure this roster would win 60 even with a healthy Kawhi, minus DeRozan. No Manu, no Green, no Parker has an impact with depth. We have none.

Heck yeah it does. This team has been completely gutted.
Plus take into account all the games that Kawhi would miss this year. Probably would miss at least 15 games. Probably would equate to at least 13 losses.

Our team is just not very good, the fact we are 6-4 is a miracle. Could've easily lost the Minny game, both Laker games and that Mavs game. We probably should be 1-9. But we're not. Derozan was a beast in the 4th in a bunch of those games. Hopefully we get more of that.

[BlackAndWhite]

The 2017 playoff run was memorable. If Parker, Lee and Kwad wasn't injured I definitely believe the spurs can beat the warriors. They played them very well that season. The first game the spurs blew out the warriors.

[daslicer]

The Spurs had a better roster in 2017. This team is radically different than the 2017 team.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I’m not sure this roster would win 60 even with a healthy Kawhi, minus DeRozan. No Manu, no Green, no Parker has an impact with depth. We have none.

Agreed

[RC_Drunkford]

The crazy thing about the 2017 run was that they said they thought they had a good chance, so they wanted to bring the same guys back. Yet they exchanged Lee, Dedmon and Simmons with Joffrey, Derrick White and BP3. The only good move was getting Rudy Gay, which compensated for them relying on Kawhi so much. Lee also had a serious injury, so he wouldn't had been the same player anyway

[daslicer]

The crazy thing about the 2017 run was that they said they thought they had a good chance, so they wanted to bring the same guys back. Yet they exchanged Lee, Dedmon and Simmons with Joffrey, Derrick White and BP3. The only good move was getting Rudy Gay, which compensated for them relying on Kawhi so much. Lee also had a serious injury, so he wouldn't had been the same player anyway

Lee didn't want to play basketball anymore after he suffered the quad injury. He was done.

[YGWHI]

I’m not sure this roster would win 60 even with a healthy Kawhi, minus DeRozan. No Manu, no Green, no Parker has an impact with depth. We have none.

I have no doubt that a healthy Kawhi would win 60 games with this roster in this West.

To be fair, WC teams seemed stronger in 2017...and Manu and Parker had some type of horrible regular season. Parker just started to look good in those playoffs.

[duncan2k5]

We won 50 games with the Autistic re getting handjobs from unc and sis in NYC

Mute Cancer had nothing to do with it

we didnt win 50 games

[Kawhitstorm]

What a load of crap. Spurs were 7-1 without Kawhi his last full season, beating the warriors, raptors, Memphis, Toronto, Portland. He didn't even play huge minutes to be arguing he carried some amazing load. Go ask Lillard or AD what it's like to carry crap...

Yeah we saw how STACKED the team was after Zaza took out Kawhi who carried Pop & those bums to a 20 point lead before they shat their pants within seconds

[Kawhitstorm]

we didnt win 50 games

Pardon him, he takes the short bus

[Spurtacular]

Hmmm. Dabom or Apo?

[Spurtacular]

Lee didn't want to play basketball anymore after he suffered the quad injury. He was done.

I don't know if you're taking poetic license; Lee wanted to come back though.

[dontouchmebwo]

How man, HOW?